Rand Paul

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News about Rand Paul, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 11, 2015

Editorial refutes presidential candidate Rand Paul's plan to overhaul federal tax system by instituting 14.5 percent flat tax; argues plan would result in estimated loss of between $1 trillion and $15 trillion over decade; adds that it would benefit only wealthiest citizens, while low- and middle-income people would be unaffected or harmed; submits flat tax might be feasible if it is acknowledged as value-added tax and supplemented by progressive fiscal system, but latter is not part of Paul's vision. MORE

Jun. 22, 2015

Several Republican politicians have received campaign contributions from Earl Holt III, leader of white supremacist group Council of Conservative Citizens, which has been linked to Charleston, SC, murder suspect Dylann Roof; among recipients are 2016 presidential contenders Rick Santorum, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, who says he will return $8,500 in donations from Holt. MORE

Jun. 19, 2015

The Upshot; analysis of Republican presidential contender Sen Rand Paul's new proposal for what he calls business-activity tax for consumption of goods and services. MORE

Jun. 17, 2015

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column argues Republican presidential candidates like Rand Paul, trying to cast image of change and inclusiveness, repeatedly betray party's antiquated values and exclusivity; surveys candidates and their often superficial claims to diversity and progress; contends as long as Republicans remain out of touch with real changes in America, candidates like Democrat Hillary Clinton will step in to fill void. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

Sen Rand Paul's libertarian stance on national security issues, including his rather lonely fight against National Security Agency's surveillance of American citizens, has endeared him to supporters of his father Ron Paul during former congressman's past presidential bids; many of the elder Paul's backers have been slow to warm to Sen Rand Paul, questioning his commitment to his father's ultra libertarian ideals. MORE

Jun. 1, 2015

Provisions of Patriot Act allowing government to amass phone records temporarily expires following caustic Senate session in which Sen Rand Paul blocked extension; revised edition of law, which will curtail some bulk data collection by National Security Agency, is likely to pass in coming week; developments reflect profound shift in American attitudes toward data collection since days following Sept 11 attacks. MORE

Jun. 1, 2015

Republican Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has been shunned and mocked by colleagues in his party, succeeds in temporarily blocking vote on renewal of section of Patriot Act that gives broad surveillance authority to National Security Agency. MORE

May. 22, 2015

Editorial praises Sen Rand Paul for calling attention to renewal of Patriot Act and bill's limitations in quasi-filibuster on Senate floor; echoes Paul's warnings that renewal will do little to limit violations of Americans' civil liberties, like government's secret phone-data sweeps of American households. MORE

May. 12, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Sen Rand Paul has made it his top priority to block government surveillance of private citizens. MORE

Apr. 21, 2015

Op-Ed article by libertarian author and editor Brian Doherty asserts that Kentucky Sen Rand Paul has only cautiously embraced libertarian label in his early presidential run and has failed to suggest policies that will inspire modern libertarians; holds Paul must challenge both parties' reliance on big government in fight for true liberty. MORE

Apr. 19, 2015

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column compares way Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sens Marco Rubio and Rand Paul have followed up on their announced intentions to run for president in 2016; expresses bafflement at way Rand Paul seems unprepared; suggests that both Rubio and Clinton handled themselves admirably, despite fact that both seemed very scripted. MORE

Apr. 15, 2015

Political Memo; Democratic and Republican presidential contenders are seeking to alter their public images in differing ways, with Sen Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker, Sen Rand Paul and Florida Gov Jeb Bush trying to appear presidential while Hillary Rodham Clinton making attempt at approachability; danger for candidates on both sides lies in appearing phony. MORE

Apr. 14, 2015

Kelley Paul, wife of Republican presidential contender Sen Rand Paul, is a writer and speaker who will take an active role in making her husband seem more approachable in his campaign. MORE

Apr. 10, 2015

Republican Sen Paul Rand has broken new ground in presidential election politics, allowing campaign donors to make contributions in Bitcoins, virtual currency, in amounts up to $100; move is likely to boost Paul's appeal to tech-savvy voters and young people, but fact that Bitcoin itself is virtually untraceable raises concerns about possibility of illegal contributions. MORE

Apr. 9, 2015

Sen Paul Rand of Kentucky has allowed a more quick-tempered side of his personality to come through during some of his first news interviews following announcement he will seek Republican presidential nomination; journalists have seen the more irascible version of Rand before, most often when he has been confronted about shifts in his political views or about statements he has made that have brought him widespread negative attention. MORE

Apr. 9, 2015

Gail Collins Op-Ed column assess political outlook for Sen Rand Paul in light of his announcement that he will seek Republican nomination for president in 2016; observes Paul has shifted his position on a number of issues in lead-up to bid; offers humorous quiz. MORE

Apr. 8, 2015

Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky announces his candidacy in 2016 presidential race; offers conservative message in speech that also contains contrarian strain of libertarianism he hopes will appeal to broader coalition some believe will be necessary to win; speech underscores worries in Republican camp that party is not inclusive enough to win presidency; many Republicans doubt Paul success given his unorthodox position on several issues, such as drug laws and defense. MORE

Apr. 8, 2015

The Upshot; Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky hopes to become first libertarian Republican to win presidential nomination; achieving goal seems unlikely, however, due to young ages and low numbers of libertarians, in addition to their wide variety and tendency not to vote; some of Paul's libertarian views may prove problematic in securing nomination as well. MORE

Apr. 8, 2015

Editorial assesses Sen Rand Paul's chances of capturing 2016 Republican nomination for president given his unorthodox positions on range of issues; suggests that Paul will not be able to appeal to national primary voters if he stands firm on his principles. MORE

Apr. 7, 2015

Sen Rand Paul, preparing to announce candidacy for 2016 Republican nomination, will seek to distance himself from legacy of his father Ron Paul, who had several unsuccessful presidential bids in past; elder Paul will likely have only minor role in campaign. MORE

Mar. 30, 2015

Likely Republican presidential candidates Sens Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, as well as likely Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, all believe income gap is problem; they all diverge from public opinion, however, on how to fix it, and are vague on action; four likely contenders are in step with country's most affluent voters on addressing inequality. MORE

Mar. 17, 2015

Sen Rand Paul's unorthodox campaign for 2016 Republican presidential nomination is based on hope that his brand of libertarian conservatism will appeal to audiences more inclined to vote Democratic; Paul faces challenge of actually attracting votes, and his campaign will be test of whether his attempt to rebrand Republican Party can happen in a year or whether it will take more time, if it can happen at all. MORE

Mar. 11, 2015

Editorial supports bill introduced by Sens Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Rand Paul that will make number of necessary changes to federal marijuana policies, including reclassifying marijuana as Schedule II drug so it can be used for medical purposes in states where it is legal; suggests that, given medical consensus and polls showing majority approval, medical marijuana should be legalized. MORE

Mar. 8, 2015

Kentucky Sen Rand Paul persuades state's Republican leaders to hold caucus rather than presidential primary in May, move that allows Paul to skirt state law banning candidate from appearing twice on same ballot; change allows Paul to run for re-election and to pursue Republican presidential nomination. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky plans to announce his 2016 presidential bid on April 7, move that will place him ahead of other Republican contenders and allow him to begin fundraising. MORE

Feb. 9, 2015

Sen Rand Paul is adopting different strategy than his father, former Rep Ron Paul, as he prepares for his likely 2016 bid to be Republican nominee for president; Paul is trying to bridge gap between fervent supporters of his father's previous campaigns and with more mainstream elements of the Republican Party. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column criticizes American politicians like Sen Rand Paul and New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, in wake of measles outbreak, for irresponsibly suggesting that vaccinations may be dangerous; notes that such health illiteracy is bipartisan; underscores effectiveness of vaccination, and suggests that it is every healthy citizen's responsibility to be vaccinated. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Kentucky Sen Rand Paul clarifies earlier comments on childhood vaccination by saying vaccines are not harmful; he was member of Assn of American Physicians and Surgeons, which lobbied for state laws permitting parents to not vaccinate their children based on their beliefs. MORE

Jan. 16, 2015

Republican Party, which has been majority for only one week, is increasingly more divisive as some members focus on running for president in 2016 and others try to achieve record of accomplishment in Washington; party leaders hold retreat while Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen Ted Cruz of Texas begin their presumptive campaigns. MORE

Nov. 24, 2014

Sen Rand Paul, likely 2016 Republican presidential candidate, calls for declaration of war against the Islamic State, position that is not widely popular within his own party; Pres Obama is planning to ask Congress for official authority to use force against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. MORE

Nov. 16, 2014

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column argues that despite favorable media coverage of Sen Rand Paul, he is not a promising presidential candidate; suggests that news media has declared Paul frontrunner in Republican field due to fact that he has been so obvious and unabashed about his interest in the presidency. MORE

Nov. 9, 2014

Ross Douthat Op-Ed column observes that Republican Party has won for second time in four years a sweeping midterm victory without having a policy agenda to match; expresses hope that if 2016 primary presidential contest coalesces around Sens Marco Rubio and Ran Paul, Republican Party could engage in a transformative debate. MORE

Sep. 27, 2014

Texas Sen Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen Rand Paul, both of whom are considering run for White House in 2016, invoke importance of religion and morality before crowd of conservative voters at Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC. MORE

Sep. 10, 2014

Sens Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, along with other Republican hopefuls in 2016 presidential election, face glaring lack of foreign policy experience; some party leaders fear that resume gap could hurt their chances if world's unstable regions continue to dominate headlines until elections; candidates are trying to build their portfolios through speeches and by hiring staff members versed in world affairs. MORE

Aug. 8, 2014

Potential contenders for 2016 Republican presidential nomination are extending overtures and making travel plans to Mexico and South America in effort to curry favor with Latino voters alienated by Congressional Republicans; among those making goodwill efforts are New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, Kentucky Sen Rand Paul and Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker. MORE

Jul. 26, 2014

Sen Rand Paul, in effort to woo black voters in 2016 presidential election, appears at speech to the National Urban League Conference in Cincinnati to see row after row of empty chairs; speech is Rand's latest before a mostly black crowd, demonstrating how he has become only major Republican who seems eager to keep going back to African-Americans to appeal for support. MORE

Jun. 28, 2014

Gail Collins Op-Ed column submits that push by Sen Rand Paul to grant personhood to fertilized eggs, and court decision involving Hobby Lobby's right to eliminate certain types of contraceptives from employee health care coverage, both mark a turning point in long, grueling national battle over reproductive rights MORE

May. 24, 2014

Republican Sen Rand Paul faces difficulty in straddling treacherous fault line splitting hawks of the GOP from others who favor less aggressive foreign policy, as he tests waters for presidential run in 2016; his wariness of centralized authority and skepticism of military intervention have alarmed powerful Republicans who seek to portray him as dangerously misguided. MORE

May. 10, 2014

Kentucky Sen Rand Paul, breaking with fellow Republicans who have pushed for stricter voting laws, says focus alienates and insults African-Americans and hurts the party; he becomes most prominent member of his party to distance himself from campaigns for voting restrictions, many of which are being pursued in states that can determine presidential elections. MORE

May. 5, 2014

Kentucky Sen Rand Paul attends Kentucky Derby with guest Rupert Murdoch, media titan who is arguably most powerful broker in Republican politics; meeting marks what could be major turn in Paul's bid for presidency in 2016, as establishment conservatives indicate their interest in a libertarian candidate who made his name by upsetting the establishment. MORE

Apr. 25, 2014

Kentucky Republican Sen Rand Paul, rising in prominence as GOP presidential contender, is avidly courting small but influential cluster of wealthy libertarians; tight-knit group of philanthropists and entrepreneurs have historically spent more on nonprofit groups and endowing college economics departments than they have on backing candidates. MORE

Apr. 25, 2014

Coalition of supporters for Cliven Bundy, Nevada rancher battling federal government's attempt to remove his cattle from public land, begins crumbling over his suggestion that African-Americans might have been better off in slavery; Sen Rand Paul joins line of Republican and Democratic leaders in denouncing him. MORE

Apr. 18, 2014

Timothy Egan Op-Ed column examines why Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who owes the fededral government about $1 million in fines and fees after grazing his cattle on National Park Service land for more than 20 years, has supporters on the far-right; contends Bundy is misusing a public resource, and criticizes his supporters, like Sen Rand Paul, for using the issue as a political tool. MORE

Apr. 13, 2014

Several hundred Republicans gather in New Hampshire at Freedom Summit, put together by Americans for Prosperity and Citizens United; what unfolds is display of today’s Republican Party in all its dynamism, division and sometimes strange spectacle; possible presidential contenders Mike Huckabee and Sens Ted Cruz and Rand Paul pitch their views. MORE

Mar. 23, 2014

Sen Rand Paul has been keeping a frenetic schedule more befitting a presidential candidate than a first-term senator; some Republicans have noted that Paul does not have a political or fund-raising infrastructure to match his emerging national profile. MORE

Mar. 20, 2014

Sen Rand Paul injects race into debate over domestic spying, suggesting that Pres Obama should be particularly wary given the government's history of eavesdropping on civil rights leaders; speech, at the University of California, Berkeley, is part of Paul's effort to bring his brand of libertarian conservatism to audiences in less friendly territory ahead of 2016 presidential election. MORE

Mar. 13, 2014

Supporters of Kentucky Sen Rand Paul are backing a bill in the state's Legislature that would allow him to appear more than once on the ballot, preparing for possibility that he may run for president in 2016 while seeking re-election to the Senate. MORE

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Acting as shadow campaigns, the political committees backing the major presidential candidates supported them with tens of millions of dollars in chartered planes, luxury hotel suites, opposition research, high-priced lawyers and more, spending...

The 16 Republican presidential hopefuls are competing against one another to score a coveted spot onstage for the first Republican debate next month. But on the Sunday shows, the chatter was all focused on the new developments surrounding Mrs....

A “super PAC” supporting Rand Paul raised just over $3 million in the first six months of the year, according to a report filed Friday, far less than most of the outside groups backing his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.

Senator Rand Paul, the White House hopeful from Kentucky who has supported negotiations with Iran, was silent on the historic development for most of the day on Tuesday before explaining on Twitter why he opposed it.